Safety attachment for smokers&#39; ash receptacles



Sept. 30, 1952 F. A. NICHOLS ET AL 2,612,174

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SMOKERS ASH'RECEPTACLES Filed April 28, 1951 INVEN TOR S. FREDE RICK A. MBHULS 1301mm] If, VERU ATTORNEY Patented Sept.30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SMOKERS ASH.REGEPTACLES Frederick}. Nichols, Stratford, and Donald H. Veto,Bridgeport, Conn.

Application April 28, 1951, Serial No. 223,474

(01. ltd-+240) Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in smokersaccessories and has particular relation to an ash receptacle includingmeans to receive a lighted cigarette or cigar and prevent the same fromburning down, ovcrbalancing and falling from the receptacle onto a tableor the floor, and which means is adapted when a lighted end of a cigaror.c igarette approaches a predetermined position-with respect to themeans to tilt and feed the lighted cigar or cigarette forwardly inwardlyover the receptacle and, in some instances, depending Qn. the heatapplied to the means by the burning cigar or cigarette, discharge thelatter into the receptacle.

An object of the invention is to provide an ash receptacle having thecharacteristics described.

Another object is to provide an ash receptacle attachment which iseasily and quickly applied to an ash receptacle and imparts thereto thecharacteristics outlined and which is readily applicable to varioustypes or constructions crash receptacles.

Another object is to provide anattachment for the purpose stated andwhich is of simple construction and easilyassembled and wherein theattachment is not likely to be. damaged while in a place of use.

Other objects and advantages of the-invention will become apparent traina consideration or the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications'as fall within the' spirit oi theinventionand the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partly inside elevation and partly in section andshowing a portion of-an ash receptacle having the invention incorporatedtherein;

Fig.2 is a view similar to-Fig. 1 but wltl'i the tray of the attachmentin reverse liositidii and over the receptacle;-

Fig. 3 is a top plan view-of Fig. hand Fig. 4 is an exploded viewshowing disassembled the various parts of the presentattachm'ent.

portion of the vertical'or upwardly directed side w ll or receptacle In.The ash rece tacle H1 s merely shown to ssi n an u derstandi 9 the appication and operation o the i ent on, nsidered s a s fety attachment i 1a h re i l wales I Such s fety attachment, gener lly designated IZ, iseasily applied to and removed it ash r cepta le and as most c ly cmprises but fou parts will q i kly assembld wi hout t e secif anyf eeiatools. Instead (if havin 5'. cQmlil ifid a tachment a erein shown. aporti n of the in 'cnt q m'ai. e incorporated, in th 'r ep aclei lf-Attachmen [2 comprises amounting means or base 13.. shown as blanked andt rme f om a single piece of sheet metal although it may be th rw s m e,as o p as ic 0. he like, if d sired. Base l3 includes el ngat d o y Ihaving a hook it at he undersid of t oute en suen h ok is for ed byending h Outer ortion of theb dv downwardly ,ep hen i a y At the innerend of the body, a short depending portion l6 attaches to the body across piece 11 locatedin .a pjlanenormal to that of the body. Crosspiece ll has its remote ends bent inwardly into substantially parallelrelation providing a pair of ears l8 and!!! having non-circularopenings, illustrated as comprising vertically extend.- ing slotszfl,passing entirely therethriough.

'In additionto the base l3, the attachment l2 includes a pivot memberalso shown alone in Fig. 4 and'generally designated 2!. This pivotmember is formed from a piece of thinfiatstockand inaddition to abody-.22 includes endportionskfi and 2d of reduced width but stillhaving flat SidSS and .19, respectively, whereby the pivotn mber may notrotate. relative to base 1.3. Blather make the pivot member of asingle pece of sto k-it m y be of 1am ated ccns prising two or more sim -vshapedthin Pisce rely disposed in .side bysside contac ing relaticn'.

The thi d eiementeof' the sa et attachmci t is also shown al ne in F ernc is ge e a lydesisnat d ..lhi e ement c mprises a 'ii sprin dy. 2ormed i cm-a t ip of t O e exten end n r-H91 7 said sh wn as sli htlylonger than th other. t on .8 ther of and the pur ose of the bspiral-and the purposcdf itsconstfilqf t forth in connection with t ...21 s m 1dd 9 completed attachment.

somewhat of an angle. is lowered into place with the body Hi of its baseThe fourth and last element of attachment I2 is a tray generallydesignated 29 and shown as made up of sheet metal comprising an upperwall 30 the mid portion of which is transversely curved to provide anelongated channel portion for the reception of a cigarette. Beyond theinner end of this mid portion, tray 29 includes extensions 3| and 32which really comprise extensions of depending side wall portions 33 and36. These extensions 3! and 32 are each provided with a round opening orperforation 35 and the openings or perforations are substantiallyaligned. At its outer end, the top wall 38 of the tray is extendedproviding an extended support 36 for a long or so-called king sizecigarette.

In assembling the attachment from the elements described, the spiral 25is slipped over the pivot member 2! from one end of the latter. Thepivot member is of such less width than the internal diameter of thespiral body 25 that its upper edge engages the upper portion of theperipheral inner surface of the spiral body 26 and, as shown clearly inFigs. 1 and 2, the side surfaces and lower edge of the pivot member areout of contact with the spiral body. Thus, the spiral body is looselysupported on and about the pivot member, so that there is no restrictionto its uniform expansion and contraction, and its substantial linecontact support upon the upper edge of the pivot member preventsany'appreciable dissipation of heat to the pivot member. Then the pivotmember with the spiral 25 thereon is disposed between the extensions 3!and 32, the tray side wall portions 33 and 34 and the reduced endportions 23 and 24 of the pivot member are inserted into theperforations or openings 35 of the respective extensions. a

At this time, spiral 25 is located in such manner that its longer arm 21is disposed against the under side of the upper wall 30 of the tray, asin Fig. l, and its shorter arm 28 is extending outwardly. Now the basel3 is'applied by slipping its ears l8 and I9 over the ends of the pivotmember 2|, it being understood that the reduced portions 23 and 24 ofsaid pivot member extend beyond the ,outer sides of the extensions 3|and 32 of the tray.

These extending portions of the pivotmember are received in the slots 20in the ears l8 and IQ of the base. The diameter of openings 35 is suchthat the tray is mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot member andthe tray has a normal position extending over the body Id of the baseand, in fact, straddling such body with the side walls 33 and 34 of thetray beyond opposite edges of the body. Additionally, the tray is ofsuch length as to extend beyond the outer downwardly bent or hookportion l of the base. Here it is noted that the side walls 33 and 34 ofthe tray are tapered longitudinally whereby normally the tray is at anincline of approximately degrees, tending to cause an object placedthereon to move into the receptacle Ill. Also, it is noted that theshorter arm 28 of coil is now disposed on an upper side of the crosspiece I! of the base.

When the present attachment is to be used, it is merely necessary toslip its hook portion l5 over the outer edge of the flange H of the ashreceptacle, the attachment at this time being at Then the attachmentextending radially inwardly over the edge flange of the receptacle withthe cross piece I1 and the pivot'member 2| and the spiral 25 all locatedslightly inwardly of the receptacle flange II and over the hollowportion of the receptacle. All this is as in Figs. 1 and 3. There itwill be noted that the tray 29 has its upper wall stopping outwardly ofits extensions 3| and 32 and thus the spiral 25 is exposed at the innerend of the tray although in a position flush with or at the most butslightly below thelevel of the lowermost portion of the curved centerportion of the tray.

At this time, the underside of the tray is engaged by the arm 21 of thespiral 25. When a lighted cigarette is placed on the tray with theignited end of the cigarette inwardly or over the receptacle, thecigarette will be prevented from burning back and overbalancing andfalling from the tray 23.

the receptacle as onto the floor or onto a table supporting thereceptacle. As the cigarette is consumed and its ignited or burning endapproaches the spiral 25, heat is applied to the latter and the bimetaltends to distort in an unwinding action.

Since its end portion 23 is against the cross piece ll, such end portionmay not move downwardly. However. its end portion 21 is also free merelybearing against the underside of the tray 29 and the latter is pivotedfor movement on the extending end-portions 23 and 23 of the pivot member2|. Thus, as heat is applied tothe bimetal,-its arm 21 presses upwardlyon the tray moving the same from the full line position of Fig. 1 as toor toward the dotted line position thereof.

As the tray is so tilted, by gravitational movement, the cigarette willslide downwardly. In the case of a relatively short, or mostly consumed.cigarette having relatively little weight and frictional resistanc itwill usually slide entirely off the tray and into the receptacle l0where the burning cigarettewill do no real harm. In the case of arelatively long, or freshly lighted, cigarette having greater weight andfrictional resistance, the burning cigarette moves intermittently only,its burning end moving inwardly from over the spiral 25. In suchinstance, the spiral will cool because of the remoteness of the burningend of the cigarette and the tray will move back to its normal position(full lines of Fig. 1) or back toward such position.

As the cigarette continues to burn, its ignited end approaches thespiral and the tray is again tilted to either have the cigarette slideofi the tray into the receptacle or tdhave the cigarette slide inwardlyon the tray carrying its burning end from the immediatevicinityof thespiral and, in the latter case, theabove described cycle'will berepeated. I I 5 With a rapidly burning cigarette, the tray may move notonly upwardly to the dotted line position of Fig. l, but may continueupwardly to and slightly past a vertical position, and in the latterinstance, thetray drops forward as to the position of Fig. 2. However,this does not occur very frequently and the tray is shown in thementioned positionin. Fig. 2 for the purpose of better illustrating thefact that the arms 2'! and 28 of the spiral 25 are completely unattachedand also for the purpose ,of illustrating .Attention isparticularlydirected to the fact that the arms) of the spiral 25 are not attachedeither tothe .base I3, to thereceptacle Iii, or to One of them merelybears against an upper edge of apart of the base and therefore such armcannot move downwardly and the other armbears against the undersideof'the'tray but member.

is not attached to it Where the base i 3 is omitted and the portionscorresponding to ears [8 and i9 are-ma dens part-oi thereceptacle, thearm 28' of thespiral-wilPbear-on an upper'e'd'ge portion of-thereceptacle.

Should the arms of-the spiral beatta'ched, the

spiral willsoon b'e distortedand-be non wo'rkable tray and the distortedspring maintains the tray elevated and the entire device is rendereduseless.

Attention is also especially called to the pivot member'zl. v 25 'iri'.position flush withor'only slightly be low the lanebf the uppersurfaceof the curved portion of the tray andthis is accomplishedbyhaving the spiral rest on the upper edge of the pivot In order tomaintain the spiral in position, the pivot member is restrained frommove ment out of a position wherein the planes of its flat sides aresubstantially normal to the plane of the body M. This is accomplishedthrough the use of the fiat sided slots receiving the flat sided endportions 23 and 24 of the pivot member.

If the pivot member were permitted to turn through 90 the spiral woulddrop from its position a, distance equal to nearly /2 the width of thepivot member and thus be remote from the plane of the cigarettereceiving surface of the tray and not properly positioned to be affectedby the heat from a burning cigarette. A round pivot member will notserve the present purpose since the mass of its metal absorbs agreat'deal of heat from the bimetal, the latter will notbe sufficientlyheated from the'burning cigarette or will not retain such heat andtransmit it about the spiral or along the spiral for the purpose ofhaving the spiral function in the manner above described. The ears I8and I9 serve merely as a mounting for the pivot member 2|. Thus, whilein an attachment these This pivot member retains thespiral ears areshown as conveniently made part of the base 13, it will be clear thatthese ears can be formed otherwise, as elements or portions of thereceptacle. I

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a smokers ash receptacles, a base including an upwardly facingabutment portion and a pair of spaced ears, a pivot member supported bysaid ears, a tray pivoted at its inner end on said pivot member forpivotal movement between a sub-' stantially horizontal positionextending over said base and an inclined position at an angle to saidbase, a spiral comprising a strip of bimetal for moving said tray on itspivot from the first toward the second of its named positions when suchspiral is heated, said spiral being loosely supported on and about saidpivot member and having outwardly extendingfr'ee end legs, one legconstituting an extension from one end of said spiral at the lowerportion thereof, said leg extending over and against said abutmentportion whereby said leg is limited in its downward movement and beingfree of connection with said abutment whereby it is free to moveupwardly, and the other leg constituting an extension from the other endof said spiral at the upper portion thereofg said otherlegf'extendingrinivlifting relation'f'at' t he underside or said trayand being free ofconne'ctionwith said-tray;{ If! 'j' 2:'-=In'- safetyattachment for I cigarette smokers ash receptacles, a-trayi having anelongated cigarette supporting -surfa'ce; a base member, pivot'ineans-"carried by said base member pivotal-1y mounting said'tra'y formovement about a horizontal axis between asubstantially I horiizoiitalcigarette supporting position and an incli-n'ed cigarette dumpingpositiomfagheat: respon- 's ive cylindrical spiral comprising :3 Lstripof bimetal' havirig its-axis parallelitoithe :pivot: axis dissed ray andhaving'the upperportion'of its outer surface-substantially :in the 'fhe-"adjacent saidicigarette supporting Ispi'ral having azleg.iccnstituting .an em onenend of saidrspiral and tex-'liftingrelationi-to" 'said tray; said pivot means-constituting: a?support? means I for .said

spiral and: having aniupwardlyzdis'posed edge portion insubstantialproximity ttox'said plane of said cigarette supporting surface, saidspiral being loosely supported solely on and about said pivot memberwith only the upper portion of the spirals peripheral inner surface incontact therewith along said upwardly disposed edge.

3. In a safety attachment for cigarette smokers ash receptacles, a trayhaving an elongated cigarette supporting surface, a base member, pivotmeans carried by said base member pivotally mounting said tray at oneend for movement about a horizontal axis between a substantiallyhorizontal cigarette supporting position and an inclined cigarettedumpin position, said horizontal axis being downwardly offset from theplane of said cigarette supporting surface, a heat responsivecylindrical spiral comprising a strip of bimetal having its axisparallel and substantially contiguous to the pivot axis of said tray andhaving the upper portion of its peripheral outer surface substantiallyin the plane of and adjacent said cigarette supporting surface, saidspiral having a leg constituting an extension from one end of saidspiral and extending in lifting relation to wardly disposed edge portionin substantial proximity to said plane of said cigarette supportingsafety attachment for cigarette surface, said spiral being looselysupported on and about said pivot member with .only the upper portion ofits peripheral inner surface in contact therewith along said upwardlydisposed edge.

smokers ash receptacles, a tray having an elongated cigarette supportingsurface, a base member, pivot 'means'carried by said base memberpivotally mounting said tray at one end for movement about a horizontalaxis between a substantially horizontal cigarette supporting positionand an inclined cigarette dumping position, said horizontal axis beingdownwardly offset from the plane of said cigarette suppOrting surface, aheat responsive cylindrical spiral comprising a strip of bimetal havingits axis parallel and'substantially contiguous to the pivot axis of saidtray and having the upper portion of its peripheral outer surfacesubstantially in the planeof and adjacentv said cigarette supportingsurface, said spiral having a leg constituting an extension from one endof said spiral and extending in lifting relation to said tray, saidpivot meansconstituting a support means for said spiral and having avertically elongated cross section having an up- 4. In a safetyattachment for cigarette wardly disposed edge p'ortionin substantialproximity to said plane of said cigarette supporting surface, saidspiral being supported on and about said pivotmember withthe upperportion of its peripheral innerv surface in contact therewith along saidupwardly disposed edge. r

5. In a safety attachment for cigarette smokers ash receptacles, a trayhaving an elongated cigarette supporting surface, a base member, pivotmeans carried by said base member pivotally mounting said tray formovement about a horizontal axisbetween a substantially horizontalcigarettesupporting position and an inclined cigarette dumping position,a heat responsive cylindrical spiral comprising a strip of bimetalhaving its axis parallel to the pivot axis of said tray and having theupper portion of its peripheral outer surface substantially in the planeof and adjacentsaid cigarette supporting surface, said spiral having aleg constituting an extension from one end of said spiral and extendingin lifting relation to said tray, said pivot means constituting asupport means for said spiral and an upwardly disposed edge portion insubstantial proximity to said plane, of said cigarette supportingsurface, said spiral being loosely supported solely on and about saidpivot member with only the upper portion of the spirals peripheral innersurface in contact therewith along said upwardly disposed edge, saidspiral having opposite ends thereof free-of connection with any portionof thetray. FREDERICK A. NICHOLSF DQNALD H. VERO.

:BE FERE NCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS ,Grantham June 3, 1941

